International Visits to U.S. and Spending Declined in 2016

Andrew Sheivachman, Skift

- Aug 11, 2017 3:00 pm

Skift Take

International visits to the U.S could have decreased in 2016 for many reasons, ranging from the pricy U.S. dollar to uncertainty surrounding U.S. politics. While data show continued growth into 2017, perhaps things aren’t as positive for the U.S. travel industry as they seem.

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The National Travel & Tourism Office found that 2016 international visitor arrivals decreased by 2 percent compared to 2015, with 75.6 million coming to the U.S. for both business and leisure. This marks the first decline since 2009. In 2015, visitation increased by 3 percent.

The Commerce Department initially released this visitor data several weeks ago but on Friday supplemented with spending statistics: International visitor spending dipped slightly, by 1 percent, to $244.7 billion across the U.S.

China, Mexico, India, and South Korea all increased visitation to the U.S. and spending while in the country. The U.S. experienced steep declines in both visitation and spending from Canada, Brazil, and Germany.

Canada, Mexico, and the UK still sent the most visitors to the U.S. in 2016, despite the decline. Travel from China to the U.S. increased 15 percent, to three million total visitors who spent $33 billion, the most of any visiting nationality.

Photo Credit: International visitation to the U.S. decreased last year for the first time since 2009. In this photo taken April 19, 2015, people walk in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Andrew Harnik / Associated Press